Down Syndrome Learning and Development
It is important to remember that while children and adults with Down syndrome experience developmental delays, they also have many talents and gifts and should be given the opportunity and encouragement to develop them.
Most children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate impairments but it is important to note that they are more like other children than they are different. Early Intervention services should be provided shortly after birth. These services should include physical, speech and developmental therapies. Most children attend their neighborhood schools, some in regular classes and others in special education classes. Some children have more significant needs and require a more specialized program.
Some high school graduates with Down syndrome participate in post-secondary education. Many adults with Down syndrome are capable of working in the community, but some require a more structured environment.
marie c pierre
i was very angry when iwas told by the doctor my baby has down syndrome no words or anything can describe my feeling towards the doctor how un professional on her parts with the intern including the hospital as well
Christina
why was that unprofesional? I know that children with down syndrom are a little bit more hard to handle but they are a gift from god:)
B.Matthews
I work as a 1-1 aide with a 13 year old DS girl who has a major behavior issue, and must have a severe learning disability. I’ve worked with this girl for 2 years now. She only behaves for me, but she cusses, spits, and hits others not in my presence. The teachers cannot get her to behave, and I do nothing special or out of the ordinary that any other student would be treated. What I am losing patience with is her lack of learning ability academically. She doesn’t know her colors, letters, numbers, matching shapes, etc. She identifies her name and objects but not much else. Before I throw in the towel and get another job, what else can we do?
Justin
hi B…Thank you so much for commenting on this site. Without care givers like yourself, many of our children would be even more delayed than they already are. Unfortunately, people with Down syndrome have dramatically different abilities and even though there is a perception that individuals with Down syndrome are sweet and have great attitudes all the time, that is of course a fallacy. It sounds like you are working with a VERY stubborn teenager who has a strong-willed and temperamental personality. She may have been exposed to behaviors that make her angry and certainly she is not acting appropriate. Those behaviors must be dealt with but it certainly is not your responsibility to take that on yourself.
I suggest you work with her teachers and her special ed coordinator (if she has one) to develop an IEP that addresses her behavior issues. You should also develop a very specific curriculum and set of goals for her so she and you can realize incremental success and so you don’t get so disenchanted with her apparent lack of progress. Remember, all individuals with Down syndrome have very different levels of abilities and the girl you work with may be at the lower end of a spectrum — of course she may not but without an expert to evaluate, it will be difficult to know what she might accomplish going forward. Long story short, please try to find goals that are appropriate for her and work with others in your support circle to address the behavior issues.
Once you begin to find some incremental success, even if it is very limited, you should both celebrate those wins and then move to another goal. Please come back and let us know how you are doing and of course, don’t be dejected but also don’t beat yourself up if it is difficult to make gains. Just do the best you can and then evaluate if you can do it anymore.
Thanks for everything you do!
Justin
Bazal
i am teaching a class with students that have down syndrome and mental retardation and other varietys of disabilities. i am new at this and would like some help with what activities i could do. any suggestions?
wanda
Hi there
try this link, over 200 lesson plans
http://www.lessonplanet.com
jaquelyn villarama
i have a DS daughter 9yrs old,,but her age is lyk 6 yrs old…she”s like normal kids the only prolem to her is she has a congenital catarac…shes very bright and im so proud of her..i just wish she will undergo operation for her catarac..so that she can see clearly…but we are not that rich to give her all that she needs…is DSAP has a charity hspital?
wanda
Hello, there are so many educational aides out there on the web—email the Down syndrome society and they will help you with plenty of resources.
Thank God for people like you, my sister was a special ed teacher for 25 years, and we have a grandson now with Down syndrome –she is a tremendous help. The one thing is flash cards with pics-like stop-listen-quiet
they will recognize these and react accordingly. The other is that they are more visual –use sign language which the Down Syndrome society will help you with–if they can communicate and be understood they are so pleasant! Hope this helps.
Jenna
Hi, I just recently started researching Down Syndrome and I am very interested in helping improve the lives of those diagnosed. One of my close friend’s brother has Down Syndrome and he is a joy to be around:) It seems that his favorite activity is dancing and listening to music. He loves the movie “Greece” and whenenver he hears a song from it, he lights up and starts singing and dancing to it! I know a lot of others diagnosed that enjoy music as well, and I was wondering if anyone does any music therapy for Down Syndrome that I could call and get more information from.. Also, I am very interested in raising money to help those diagnosed and I would LOVE any suggestions on how I could get this out, raise money, and put my plan into motion?
Mrs. G
last year I went to a conference and learned so much about how our children with Down Syndrome process information, it explained some of the behavior. Some of what others may view as stubborn is not what it seems, our children have a specific way of systematically doing things and when that order is rushed or if you try to move the child then the child may get upset and therefore May show some form aggression because they want to finish and have a way of finishing. In the conference they mentioned that to give the child a few seconds to sometimes a couple of minutes to process what you want them to do. I hope i’m explaining this correctly. They also mentioned a program that has shown great success in teaching our children to read and write
Camille
Could you please tell me about this conference about Down Syndrome? I would be interested in attending.
Theresa
hello, I am a student and am researching activities that can be done at home and day care for children with down syndrome, deafness, blindness and cerebral palsy. any help in pointing me in the right direction is appreciated. please email me at Pretty_Angel696@hotmail.com
Thanks so much